Don’t Call Me a Pianist!
An essay by Jenny Q Chai.
Who are we without names? Are we still who we are without names?
If yes, then why do we need names?
Are names categorizations, or mere symbols of our real selves?
Of course, we need names for identification. Like in a library, the books labeled with numbers then become associated with the numbers. But let’s not forget, the book is about what it is about, with or without the labeling.
What is the title pianist? Is it a person who plays on pianos? Is it a job, a profession? Is it a kind of art form? When thinking about the word pianist, people immediately associate it with Rubinstein, Horowitz, Liszt, Chopin, etc.
If we strip away the title pianist, who are these people?
Why do so many unique people all fit in one position, pianist, with its limitation of association?
Music is about the world, full of symbols, numbers, beauty and passion.
Please, don’t call me a pianist. Please take away the conformity and the preformed ideas. Please do not cage me with the boxes of pianism.
I am simply a performing artist, using piano as my tool.
